Addressing Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction through ICT and EU Assistance: The Case of Philippine Local Governance

Abstract

Developing countries are gravely challenged by the adverse effects of climate change and natural disasters. The Philippines is considered as one of the most vulnerable and disaster-prone countries in the world. The European Union (EU) as a development partner extends support to the Philippines on climate change. While there are global and national initiatives to take action on these issues, the challenge is how local governments can engage communities to address these environmental threats. The paper poses the following questions: (1) What initiatives did the Philippine national government undertake to address climate change and disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) in the Philippines? (2) What assistance does the EU provide to the Philippines in tackling climate change? (3) In what ways is information and communications (ICT) used by local governments as a mechanism to engage their constituents in dealing with climate change and natural disasters? Documentary analysis of Philippine laws on ICT, climate change, and disaster risk reduction and management are employed to determine the policy framework of the Philippines as a case. Desktop research is undertaken to evaluate the content of selected local government websites on disaster management and to identify the forms of EU technical assistance to the Philippines on climate change. While national policies exist to deal with climate change and disaster management, initiatives may take a backseat given the current pandemic.

Keywords: climate change, disaster risk reduction and management, Philippines, information & communications technology, local governance, EU assistance